Aboard · SELF-GUIDED TOURS
The 15 best self-guided tours you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Cruise Amsterdam’s historic canals for 75 minutes, passing the Anne Frank House, Westerkerk, Magere Brug, Rijksmuseum, NEMO, and more. Choose a snackbox, use audio commentary in 19 languages, or give children the Fresh Water Pirate story and booklet. Captain Brian may add lively local commentary.
“Lovely boat trip. Seeing Amsterdam from the canal is a must”
Board a Mega Lüfer yacht in Karaköy for a two-hour Bosphorus cruise past palaces, fortresses, bridges, and Maiden’s Tower. Choose daytime or sunset, use the nine-language mobile audio guide, and add snacks, dinner, or unlimited alcoholic drinks.
“A brilliant cruise. 2 hours to see all the main sights. We picked with dinner and that was a great decision. There were 3 courses and all high quality food with generous portions. Plenty of included drinks and a very friendly waiter.”
Cruise from the Eiffel Tower past Notre Dame, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Pont Neuf on a spacious trimaran. Choose a 14-language audio guide or smartphone app, then head to the open top deck for wide city views and night photos.
“It was a great experience, there is an audioguide available that you can open on your phone and at the same time one of the guys on the boat does speak on the loudspeaker and gives you a brief description of what we are seeing. I'm not sure how well you can hear it on the top of the boat as we were sitting on the lower level outside. There is plenty of space to sit at the top uncovered, inside or on the sides of the boat.”
You’ll spend 90 minutes aboard a modern electric ship sailing from Oslo Fjordhage around the inner Oslofjord. See Akershus Fortress, Bygdøy, Hovedøya, Gressholmen, and the Opera House from the water, with a free multilingual audio guide, Wi-Fi, a café-bar, and accessible decks.
“Great to see Oslo and surrounds from the water as night fell.”
From Eminönü, you’ll cruise between Europe and Asia past Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, Beylerbeyi Palace, and Maiden’s Tower. Sea Land Travel Agency provides multilingual commentary, phone-based audio in 11 languages, free Wi-Fi, Turkish tea, Nescafé, and a sunset departure option.
“Fun to watch the Istanbul town. The guiding is clear, recommended!”
Cruise Riga’s City Canal and Daugava River in a small eco-friendly boat, passing parks, bridges, Old Town, Riga Castle, Kipsala, and the Freeport. Use the multilingual audio guide, or sit near the captain for extra tips and answers. The $10 price and one-hour length suit a short city visit.
“Cozy and warm. The one hour tour around Riga channel and Daugava river was quite pleasant.”
Meet the yellow umbrella near Hagia Sophia, walk 10 minutes to the pier, then cruise the Golden Horn and Bosphorus for two hours. You’ll pass palaces, fortresses, waterfront villages, and bridges between Europe and Asia, with smartphone audio in eight languages and a sunset departure option.
“It began on time and was a really complete experience”
Take a 45-minute Vistula cruise from Wiślany Ogród past Wawel Castle, the Bernatek Footbridge, Church on the Rock, and Manggha Centre. Choose daylight or after sunset, listen to English or Polish commentary, and use the heated lower deck or upper deck with blankets.
“I booked it last minute and they were so accommodating! I opted for the 45 minute tour over the 30 minute and oh boy was it worth it. The guide is so educated on his city and its history. I’d do it over again if I had the time!”
From Market Square, spend 90 minutes cruising Helsinki’s island-studded coast, passing Suomenlinna, Korkeasaari Zoo, icebreakers, and the Degerö Canal. You get indoor and outdoor seating, recorded commentary in four languages, booklets in eight more, and a small cafe with coffee, pastries, and drinks.
“I like it! Very best nature, nice views. It goes around the archipelago and you can feel the atmosphere of North Baltic Sea.”
From the Magnifico Douro pier in Pinhão, you cruise beneath the iron bridge and upriver toward Tua before returning. The two-hour trip uses a traditional Rabelo boat with open and covered seating. Download the free app in advance, bring earphones, and expect vineyard views rather than a live guide.
“Highly recommend the two hour tour that takes you to Tua to see the Dam”
You enter the Paris Catacombs at a timed slot, follow an audio guide through bone-lined tunnels, then take a flexible one-hour Bateaux Mouches cruise. You handle your own transport between sites. Audio is available in English, French, German, and Spanish.
“I didn’t go on the cruise however the ticket is valid for a year. But the catacombs were incredible absolutely amazing. The audio guides and seeing and hearing about everything was insane”
Spend one day touring Istanbul by double-decker bus from Sultanahmet Square. Ride past Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks, cross the Bosphorus Bridge, and hop off near palaces, bazaars, and waterfront districts. Audio commentary is available in several languages, with an optional self-guided audio tour and Bosphorus cruise.
“Great time and with a husband using an electric scooter, the employees where kind and helpful”
Cruise Berlin’s Spree for 150 minutes aboard a quiet, solar-electric catamaran limited to 36 passengers. From Oberbaum Bridge, you pass the East Side Gallery, Museum Island, the Reichstag, and Berlin Central Station, with multilingual audio guides, drinks, snacks, blankets, and wheelchair access.
“Great experience. Very enjoyable. Would be lovely with some music, but over all really enjoyed it.”
Descend 20 meters into Paris’s Catacombs for a self-paced audio tour through bone-lined tunnels, then add a one-hour Seine cruise with commentary. You will walk narrow, sometimes slippery passages at 14°C, climb 242 steps, and see the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Notre-Dame from the water.
“The audio guide was great and we could go at our own pace”
See Riga from a small wooden boat as you cruise the canal and Daugava River, passing the Freedom Monument, Opera, Central Market, and 19 bridges. A water or soft drink is included, with beer, prosecco, or hot wine available for €1 more. Your ticket also includes a 13-stop Old Riga audio walk.
“This Sunset Boat Tour was absolutely incredible. The guide was so sweet and knowledgable, historic beautiful boat. Took beautiful pictures, had a nice drink and just an overall great time. Very accomodating and helpful organisers. Highly recommend and great price!”
Pick a river, a coast or a harbour.
